Abstract
The adsorption of several hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) from water on alumina coated by sodium dodecylsulfate surfactant “hemimicelles” is discussed. This provides a convenient way of concentrating them on a metal oxide solid support such as alumina. Alumina can be subsequently regenerated with a minimum effort such as a change of pH of the aqueous solution. Adsorption studies showed that the partition constants of HOCs with hemimicelles of sodium dodecylsulfate on alumina is linearly related to their octanol-water partition constants. Surfactantcoated alumina was a better adsorption surface for HOCs than natural soils.